M&S continues its trendy streak with trainers that look just like designer brands – for half the price

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It’s recently won over Gen Z shoppers with its clothing rebrand, and now Marks and Spencer’s is overhauling its selection of trainers as well. 

However, the British retailer’s latest collection appears to be inspired by popular styles from brands like Adidas and New Balance. 

Unlike these retailers, M&S’s offerings are on sale for a fraction of their cost. 

For instance, its £49.50 Leather Side Detail Trainers are a dead ringer for New Balance’s popular 327 shoes.

With their similar contrast sole, distinct silhouette, and white logo, the trainers are virtually indistinguishable from each other.

It’s also taken on Onitsuka Tiger, a trending Japanese label that’s quickly gathered fans in the West with its retro-styled, bright trainers.

The British high street hero has recreated the same ‘tiger’ stripes for its version and even comes in the same bright, yellow colour as the popular Mexico 66 VIN.

Much like the New Balance trainers, M&S’s £50 pair costs less than half the £135 original. 

The brand has also taken on the sneakerina – a hybrid shoe blending the practical aspects of trainers with the light and feminine features of ballet flats for comfort and style.

Given their quirky style, the shoe might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the silhouette’s surge in popularity is undeniable, with shopping platform Lyst last year witnessing a 1300 per cent increase in searches for the term ‘ballet trainers’. 

And now M&S has revealed its version of the shoe with the £36 Ankle Tie Trainers – and they look a lot like Adidas’s £80 Taekwondo Mei Ballet trainers.

Other remarkable examples of M&S looking to other, high-end brands include its £130 Waxed Pure Cotton Utility Jacket, which bears a striking resemblance to Barbour’s £299 Catton Waxed Jacket.

Then there’s the brand’s take on Kim Kardashian’s Skims ribbed loungewear set, which retails at £120.

While M&S’s pair is similarly loose-fitting, soft, and versatile, it retails at just £20 and comes in six different shades, unsurprisingly leading to mass hysteria online, with shoppers telling others to ‘run’ to get a pair.

While the British retailer has long been known for its lingerie department, its new, big makeover sets it apart from the practical old days.

Now, styles adopted by M&S resemble items you’d expect to browse in Agent Provocateur or Pour Moi.

It’s not just clothes and underwear; other departments also appear to have created similar versions of coveted buys from leading brands, including homeware.

Anthropologie’s £178 Theodora Embroidered Quilted Bedspread, for instance, can be shopped on a budget with M&S’s Pure Cotton Suzani Bedding Set, which sells for between £25 and £55 depending on the desired size.

The perfume department may also be borrowing scents, given that the brand’s £16 Blush is said to smell a lot like Jo Malone’s £122 English Pear & Freesia Cologne.

Now, while the brand hasn’t alienated its core base, there is the addition of unmistakably on-trend items lining the racks to tempt both younger buyers and millennial women who are very much invested in looking good – as well as celebrity collaborations with the likes of Sienna Miller and former Made in Chelsea star Binky Felstead.

So, just how did M&S pull it all off? The answer lies largely with Maddy Evans, the former fashion director of Topshop, who was hired in 2019 as head of buying and promoted to director of womenswear in 2022.

Her presence has helped M&S fill the crucial gap left by what was one of the high street’s popular brands by offering must-have pieces such as a faux croc leather trenchcoat that is rapidly selling out and being re-stocked.

It’s also adopted a faster fashion approach, meaning new items can move from the drawing board to the shelf in as little as a month – enabling the retailer to react to demand and the newest trends.

Speaking previously to the Daily Mail, Ms Evans said: ‘We’re pleased to see womenswear achieve its highest ever style rankings, particularly with the 35-54 customer – a clear sign our focus is landing and our ranges are resonating with more people more often.

‘It’s important that we keep up momentum so this season we’re supercharging newness across the board: from dresses and partywear through to denim, knitwear and outerwear. We’re investing in fabrics, silhouettes and trend-led pieces our customers want; while still delivering the value they trust us for.’